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Piazza, Beltran lead Mets' vote-getters

Piazza, Beltran leading Mets' vote-getters

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By Marty Noble
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MLB.com |

To the surprise of no one, Mike Piazza is leading the All-Star Game balloting for National League catchers. The all-time leader in home runs by a catcher, an 11-time All-Star, has a 156,136-vote lead over Paul Lo Duca of the Marlins in the first NL balloting update released Wednesday by Major League Baseball.

If Piazza does make another trip to baseball's summer showcase, to be played in Detroit on July 12, he may be joined by several of his teammates. Five other Mets are among the leading candidates, including Carlos Beltran, who is No. 1 among National League outfielders in the voting.

Beltran, in his first full season in the National League, has received 527,433 votes, 125,014 more votes than runner-up Jim Edmonds of the Cardinals. Beltran was named to the All-Star team last year after being traded from the Royals to the Astros.

The other Mets among the leaders are Cliff Floyd (seventh among outfielders), Jose Reyes (fourth among shortstops), David Wright (fifth among third basemen) and Kaz Matsui (fifth among second basemen).

Floyd, who had a torrid April and is heating up again after a slump, was an All-Star in 2001 and wants to make a return trip.

"My mother would go crazy. I want it for her," said Floyd. "She gets so excited about this. I'm going to have to get hot again to make her happy."

Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.